Description
Hearty Amish Poor Mans Steak brings rustic comfort to family dinner tables across Pennsylvania farm regions. Simple ground beef patties deliver classic midwestern flavor with minimal ingredients and maximum satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or crushed saltine crackers
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- ½ cup milk
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tbsps butter
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp onion powder (for steaks)
- ½ tsp onion powder (for gravy)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, milk, and seasonings in a large bowl, folding gently until ingredients are harmoniously incorporated without compressing the mixture.
- Patty Formation: Shape the meat blend into elongated oval patties with consistent half-inch thickness, ensuring even cooking and optimal texture.
- Chilling and Stabilizing: Place patties on a tray, cover securely, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to solidify the structure, enhance flavor cohesion, and prevent potential crumbling during cooking.
- Coating Preparation: Dredge the chilled patties thoroughly in flour, creating a delicate protective layer that will transform into a crisp, golden exterior when cooked.
- Searing and Browning: Heat a skillet with oil over medium-high temperature, carefully placing floured patties and cooking until a rich, caramelized crust forms on both sides, approximately 4-5 minutes per surface.
- Gravy Creation: In the same skillet, combine beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and remaining seasonings, whisking to develop a velvety sauce that will complement the meat’s robust flavor.
- Finishing and Simmering: Return patties to the skillet, nestling them into the gravy, and allow them to simmer on low heat for 20-25 minutes, ensuring complete internal cooking and sauce absorption.
Notes
- Prevent Crumbling: Mix meat gently and avoid overworking to maintain a tender, cohesive texture that holds together during cooking.
- Consistent Thickness Matters: Shape patties with uniform half-inch thickness to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Chill for Better Binding: Refrigerate patties for 30 minutes before cooking, which helps ingredients meld and stabilizes the meat’s structure for cleaner handling.
- Season Strategically: Use dry seasonings sparingly and mix thoroughly to distribute flavor evenly without creating dense protein clusters that might compromise the patty’s delicate composition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 87
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg